Cornish Game Hens Recipe with Rosemary and Garlic

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This fragrant cornish game hens recipe is baked in a pan with garlic, rosemary, olive oil, and white wine, making for the perfect romantic dinner.

Whether you are looking for a holiday meal or romantic dinner for two, this cornish game hen recipe will impress with no stress! Coming together in about 1 hour, you are going to love the taste and the way your home smells!

Pair your cornish game hens with the perfect side dishes like Bacon Wrapped Asparagus (Low Carb and Keto) and Keto Sauteed Brussels Sprouts!

Cornish Game Hens Recipe

A keto-friendly dinner for the ages!

Having a small holiday dinner or looking to prepare a romantic dinner for 2 for New Year’s or Valentine’s Day? If so, this cornish game hens recipe is for you!

The hens are so small/petite, don’t take long to cook, and it’s a kind of “set it and forget it” dinner that everyone will think you spent all day sweating over in the kitchen.

BONUS: If you have leftover meat, there are so many ways to rework the leftovers to enjoy it for lunch the next day!

Ingredients needed to make Cornish Game Hens Recipe

Meat: 2 Cornish game hens. Double or triple accordingly based on how many people you need to serve.

Herbs and Spices: 2 tablespoons garlic, 2 sprigs of fresh rosemary, and salt and pepper to taste

Wet Ingredients: 2 tablespoons chicken broth, ½ lemon, quartered, ⅓ cup white wine, dry, and 3 tablespoons olive oil, divided.

How to Make My Famous Cornish Game Hens Recipe

Preheat. Preheat oven to 450 degrees F

Rub cornish hens. Rub cornish game hens with 1 tablespoon of the olive oil, then season with with salt and pepper. 

Season. Place 2 lemon wedged, 1 sprig rosemary, and 1 tablespoon of minced garlic in the cavity of each hen. 

Bake. Place on a greased roasting pan and bake for 25 minutes.

Whisk. While the hens are baking, whisk together wine, chicken broth, and remaining 2 tablespoons of oil.

Baste. Reduce the oven to 350 degrees F, and pour the wine basting mixture over the hens.

Continue baking. Continue baking for 25 minutes, basting the hens with the pan juices every 10 minutes, until the game hens are golden brown and the juices run clear.

Rest. Once done, transfer the cornish game hens to a platter and cover with aluminum foil to rest for 15 minutes or until ready to serve.

Serve. Once your hens are done resting, plate them, serve them, and enjoy them!

What are Cornish Game Hens?

If you are unfamiliar with what a cornish game hen is, they are petite birds/small chickens.

Typically, they are about 1-2 pounds each and fit perfectly and look greaton a dinner plate! People enjoy making these hens because they are tender, juicy, and elegant to serve!

Tips for Makeing the Perfect Cornish Game Hens Recipe

Although cute in size and rather easy to make, cornish hens come with some tips and tricks to remember when cooking to ensure you get the best results!

• Don’t forget to rub some salt into the cavity of the hens to draw more moisture out while it bakes. Bonus, this tip also helps season the meat a little more!
• Don’t skip out on adding a few sprigs of fresh herbs and slices of lemon to the cavity. This is where you are going to get a lot of added flavor.
• If you save bacon grease after cooking bacon, this is a recipe where you can put it to use! Swap out olive oil for leftover bacon grease and bring on the subtle but nice added flavor.
• Ensure your chicken is fully cooked but not overcooked. Once you remove your cornish hens out of the oven, insert a meat thermometer in the thickest part of the breast away from any bones and verify that the internal temp is 165°F.

What to Serve with Cornish Game Hens

This recipe has perfect main entrée vibes, but you can’t forget your sides or rounds to really elevate the meal. Don’t worry, no matter what you add, all the attention will still be on the entrée!

I like to start every meal off with a nice salad. This doesn’t have to be anything fancy, but if you are looking to add flavors and textures, I like to toss in “in-season” low-carb and/or keto-friendly ingredients.

When it comes to sides, I always recommend roasted, baked, or air fryed veggies like broccoli, cauliflower, or asparagus. Another great side dish everyone loves is Green Bean Casserole!

You can’t forget dessert! If you are looking for inspiration, look no further. I’ve got a variety of keto-friendly desserts that everyone will love like Keto Creme Brulee, Keto Cranberry Cheesecake Bars, and Keto Strawberry Ice Cream Recipe!

Leftover Cornish Game Hens

It is rare to have leftovers because each hen is a serving for one person. However, if you have leftovers or make extra and have leftovers, don’t sweat I’ve got you covered!

• Use the leftover meat in a salad
• Use the leftover meat and make a sandwich
• Re-heat the leftovers and eat them as is
• Make leftover cornish game hen tacos or lettuce wraps
• Make soup with the leftover meat and use the carcus to make stock